Are there different kinds of redwoods? How do coastal redwoods grow to become the tallest organisms on earth? Why are there so few old growth trees left? How important are banana slugs to the redwood ecosystems? Answer these questions and more every Saturday on our Redwood Grove Walks. One of our knowledgeable and friendly docents will lead you through the wondrous old growth forest and answer any questions you may have. Meet at the visitor center. Event free. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. Event made possible by Mountain Parks Foundation and California State Parks.

Call-out to the Santa Cruz Community! Submissions Wanted! Zine Fronteras is looking to collect submissions of original writings, short memoirs, essays, poetry, photographs and art that reflects on and highlights immigrant experiences.

All content contributors will receive a free copy of the published book! Zine Fronteras seeks to create a safe space for artistic and intellectual expression encapsulating the stories and experiences of immigrant communities in Santa Cruz.

We believe that sharing one's individual and community experiences can be acts of self-empowerment, thus creating a positive atmosphere for cultural appreciation, political consciousness, and empathy building for our entire community.

Rodoni FarmsGreat local place to pick your pumpkin right from the field and have fun in the corn maze! Date: Every day (Sep 22-Oct 31)

Special Instructions: 4 miles North of Santa Cruz, California on Hwy. 1

Pumpkins are HERE!!

Pumpkins and fun are what it's all about! Come roam through the fields of pumpkins. There are so many varieties to choose from! We have hay bales, scary cutouts, and a 5 acre corn maze! We also have fresh Brussels sprouts on the stalk, artichokes, corn stalks, and gourds. **Pumpkins are priced by size, not weight.

Choosing your pumpkin:There are two methods of choosing your pumpkin to carve. The first way is my favorite. As you stroll through the pumpkin patch a certain individual pumpkin will jump out at you! That's the ONE! The other method is to have a pattern or face in mind and look for a pumpkin that will work with your design. Usually a large stem makes a nice addition to the pumpkin. Remember!. The more unusual the better!

Bring your camera! There are many fun photo spots!

Come spend the day by the California coastline and hand pick your Halloween pumpkin!

We are open every daily, 9 AM - 6 PM from October 1st through Halloween. After Halloween we will remain open on the honor system until Christmas.

We are dog friendly. We kindly ask that you keep them on a leash at all times and pick-up after them, if need be.

4 miles North of Santa Cruz, California on Hwy. 1. Take Mission Street through the center of town and continue on to Hwy. 1 towards San Francisco/ Halfmoon Bay. We are on the right side just after Dimeo Lane.

Roaring CampAdmission is FREE for the whole family October 4-5 and children with a Steam Train ticket get to pick out a free pumpkin from ou Date: Every day (Oct 6-Oct 7) Admission Fees: Adults: $45 ~ Children: $35 (ages 2-12)

Harvest Faire & Steam Festival

Step into the incredible world of steam power at the Harvest Faire & Steam Festival presented by Kinetic Steam Works and Roaring Camp Railroads. Welcome Fall with heritage children's activities like scarecrow making, pumpkin patch picking, candle making and gold panning. Behold a variety of steam and belt-powered equipment on display.

Admission is FREE for the whole family September 30th and October 1st and children with a Steam Train ticket get to pick out a free pumpkin from our Harvest Pumpkin Patch on Bear Mountain.

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural HistoryMeet the Artist: December 7th, 6-8pm. Free to the public. Date: Every day (Oct 5-Jan 6) from 10:00am to 5:00pm Ages: All ages

Pathways Through Our Parks,Paintings of Parks in Santa Cruz County by Ann Elizabeth Thiermann

October 5, 2018 - January 6, 2019

Ann Thiermann's series of pastel and acrylic paintings invite the viewer to visually linger over the flora and fauna along the pathways of our extraordinarily diverse parks in Santa Cruz County. From river to sea, chaparral to marsh, and rustic to urban, creatures both wild and domestic, marine and terrestrial, historic and contemporary inhabit her park pathways in a variety of seasonal and weather conditions.

Explore these iconic Santa Cruz views and discover them for yourself in our abundant parks and open spaces.

Opening Reception for Members: October 5th, 6-8pmMeet the Artist: December 7th, 6-8pm. Free to the public.

About the Artist:

Ann Elizabeth Thiermann, MFA is inspired by living, hiking, and painting in beautiful Santa Cruz County. Her creativity is fueled by her artistic family, Sylvie, the studio cat, her folk dancing friends, teaching and leading art trips abroad. In addition to painting landscapes and murals, daily joy comes from swimming, camping, and visiting the farmer's market and working in her garden. Movement in her art is reinforced by her time playing organ, piano and harpsichord as a church musician.

Pumpkin Junction

October 1st through October 31st, 8am - 8pm

Experience Pumpkin Junction on a Field Trip or on a family outing. Your children will make lasting memories as they enjoy the Harvest season and explore all that Casa de Fruta has to offer! Come and find the perfect pumpkin, mine for gemstones at Casa de Miner's Sluice, ride Casa de Choo Choo and take a spin on Casa de Carousel! For more info call 1-800-543-1702 or email info@casadefruta.com.

GoogleGoogle Science Fair is an online science competition, open to students between the ages of 13 and 18 from around the world. Date: Every day (Sep 13-Dec 12)

Google Science Fair is an online science competition, open to students between the ages of 13 and 18 from around the world.

You can sign up starting September 13th 2018 by visiting googlesciencefair.com and clicking on the Start your project button. If you're not sure where to start, you can get help by taking a look at our Student resources and checking out some out some of our previous winners.

This competition is open to full-time and home-schooled students around the world, between ages of 13 and 18 (these ages are slightly different in a few countries like Israel, South Korea and Europe). See the Official Rules for more details.

State Park Pigeon Point Light Station Date: Every Su, Fri and Sa at 10:00am Ages: All

The Pigeon Point Lighthouse is currently under repair, but that doesn't mean that the First Order Fresnel Lens can't shine! The Fresnel lens, the original lighthouse beacon, will light up once again from its temporary home in the Visitor Center. As dusk settles, the 24 beams of light provide a dramatic glimpse of how the lighthouse once guided ships passing by this rocky coastline. Bring a flashlight and join us for a unique experience. For more information, call the park at (650) 879-2120 or go online to www.Parks.CA.gov/PigeonPoint. Event is free. Events made possible by Coastside State Parks Association and California State Parks.

* Please note the lighthouse will NOT be lit. The original lighthouse beacon, the First Order Fresnel lens, will be lit but in its temporary location inside the Visitor Center. The lighthouse is being repaired and is currently not accessible to the public.

State Park Wilder RanchExperience the Victorian era! Date: Every Su and Sa Ages: All Admission Fees: Free Special Instructions: Weekends from 11:00am-3:00pm, tours of the ranch houses at 1:00pm

Life on the Ranch Day - The Early Days on a Dairy FarmSaturday, August 11 from 11am to 3pm

Wilder Ranch State Park invites you to experience old-time activities from its rancho, dairy farm, and cowboy rodeo days. Hands-on activities and living history presentations may include butter churning, ice cream making, roping skills, and demonstrations in the ranch buildings. Come for a picnic on the lawn and follow it up with a game of tug of war, sack races, hoops, stilts, and Wilder Ranch's famous old-fashioned bubbles! This event is appropriate for all ages. Event is free; parking is $10. Please call the park to confirm at (831) 426-0505. Event made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.

Santa Cruz Art LeagueWonderful opportunity to see the amazing art of local artists and chat with them in their studios Date: Every Su and Sa (Oct 3-Oct 21) from 11:00am to 5:00pm

Open Studios is a free self-guided tour, produced by Arts Council Santa Cruz County, that invites the public into more than 300 artist studios across Santa Cruz County. Open Studios 2018 takes place the first three weekends of October, from 11am to 5pm Saturdays and Sundays.

South County: October 6 & 7 North County: October 13 & 14 All County: October 20 & 21

The Tour takes place throughout Santa Cruz County, from the redwoods to the sea.

Plan Your Tour

Pick up an Artist Guide

The 2018 Open Studios Artist Guide is FREE and available alongside the Good Times at locations throughout Santa Cruz County (while supplies last) or at any of these outlets.

Visitors

Visiting from out of town? Make it a weekend (or three)! We've partnered with Hotel Paradox to bring an artful lodging experience to your Open Studios adventure. Request the "Arts Council" rate and save 15%. Reserve online using promo code 13701 or call 877-425-7100. You can also email ann@artscouncilsc.org to request a guide be shipped to you.

Download the App

Free app (or app update) available October 1, 2018. If you downloaded the App to an iPhone or iPad in 2016 or 2017 you will be able to install an update.. Or download for the first time via iTunes or Google Play. Search keyword "Open Studios Art Tour".

We are partnering with Alladin Nursery for this years Marketplace. Stop by for a fantastic BBQ lunch of Corralitos Sausages, Corralitos area wine and drinks, pizza cooked in a wood burning oven from the folks at "Slight of Hand", Mexican fare from My Mom's Mole, local food artisans from the El Pajaro CDC Commercial Kitchen Incubator and much more! Check the events schedule for our food preservation demo times. Listen to live music while enjoying artisan food and wine, all in the beautiful surroundings of Alladin Nursery.

Register Online!

When you register to attend the tours online you are automatically entered into our drawing with chances to win a FREE lunch at the Market Place and gifts donated by our sponsors! Making a suggested donation of $10.00 or more helps support the tours & will get you a FREE beverage of choice form our lunch booth at the Market Place. Click on the registeration graphic at the left for more details.

Tour using our Google Maps GPS!

Google Maps makes it easy to navigate your way from wherever you are to the farm you want to visit. Just go to our Maps page and click on the farm you want to visit. A map and directions will instantly appear leading the way to the farms location. It's that easy!

Dress up in costume for one of San Francisco Zoo & Garden's most popular

Come to SF Zoo to welcome our favorite season... FALL!

Every weekend in October, go on an adventure in "Harvest Hallow" for access to new and exciting attractions. Navigate through San Francisco's largest hay maze, a 5,000-square-foot structure made from 600 bales of straw and incorporates play areas within the design. Free with paid admission to San Francisco Zoo & Gardens!

For kids AND adults, SF Zoo's "Zoo Brew Haus" at The Depot Grill is pouring a great selection of brews, and cooking a full smorgasbord of German-inspired dishes, like beer-braised bratwurst with Guinness mustard and Sauerkraut! During lunch, dine to the upbeat sounds of a live band playing traditional European polka music. You might even want to get up and dance!

State Park Wilder RanchHistory comes alive at Wilder Ranch State Park on the weekends Date: Every Su and Sa at 1:00pm Ages: All Admission Fees: $10 parking

Ranch History Tours

Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm

Monday, September 3 at 1pm

Discover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1897 Victorian home, 1859 Gothic Revival farmhouse, 1896 water-powered machine shop, barns and other historic buildings. Event is free; parking is $10. Please call the park to confirm at (831) 426-0505. Event made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.

Lemos Farm12320 San Mateo Rd. (Hwy 92)Half Moon BayOne zone for the little ones who don't want to be really scared and another scare zone with live actors who will do their best to "scare the yell out of you," train rides, hay rides, pony rides and pumpkins

Corralitos Valley Research & Education Association (CVREA)We have the tastiest fruit, veggies and baked treats! Date: Every Su from 11:00am to 3:00pm

The Farm & Garden Market is a small, friendly, open air market made up of local farmers and gardeners who grow within about a five mile radius of Corralitos.

Seasonally we have the tastiest strawberries, blueberries, cherries, lemons, tomatoes, herbs, squash, potatoes, carrots, peas, beets, and avocados, as well as a variety of other fruits, vegetables, lettuces and salad greens.

We have bakers that offer wonderful treats, along with a table full of beautiful potted flowers.

You may find expertly handmade natural soaps, and homemade jams and preserves.

The market is open to all of our friends and neighbors who grow anything from a garden to a good back yard fruit tree.

For a booth we request a $5 donation to the CVREA, the non-profit who maintains the Corralitos Cultural Center.

Arata Pumpkin FarmHey everyone, it's that time of year again! Come on out to the farm and enjoy the world famous Minotaur's Labyrinth Hay Maze, or Date: Every day (Sep 25-Oct 31) from 9:00am to 7:00pm

Welcome

You can lose yourself in our 6 acre corn field and pumpkin river. Try to challenge yourself intellectually and physically in our 2 acre world famous Minotaur's Labyrinth Hay Maze. Take a walk on the wild side and adventure into our Haunted Barn. Relax and enjoy yourself on our Hay Ride.

Or you can let the kid's play in our Play Land playground with Miniature Hay Maze, on the Children's Train Ride or have fun with our animals in the Petting Zoo. We also have many picnic areas throughout the farm, at Arata Pumpkin Farm we have something for everybody.

We also have dozens of varieties of pumpkins and sizes. We have a special pumpkin for everyone in your family! Feel free to give us a call, send us an email or just come to the farm. We would love to see you.

Our HoursMonday - Friday 9am - 7pmSaturday - Sunday 9am - 8pm

Family Package $15 per Adult ~ $20 per Child Attraction A minimum of one paid adult and one paid child, age 10 and under are required to qualify for this package

State Park Big BasinDog-friendly walk on North Escape Road, a paved road closed to traffic Date: Every Su at 9:30am

Special Instructions: See details for dates/times

The Road Less Traveled: A Dog-Friendly Walk

Sundays at 9:30am

On this dog-friendly walk, we travel North Escape Road, a paved road closed to traffic. We tour stunning old-growth redwood groves along beautiful Opal Creek. We'll discuss redwood ecology and park history while exploring the deep shade of the redwood forest. This is a fun and easy, 3-mile, 2-hour walk with docent Diane Shaw. Dogs not required, but welcome! Bring water. Meet at park headquarters. For more information, call (831) 338-8883. Event free. Vehicle day use fee is $10. Event made possible by Mountain Parks Foundation and California State Parks.

Get Lost in Kayla's Korn Maze. Try to find your way out of this 2 acre corn maze with interactive trivia cards. Fun for the whole family.

Hay Jump Have the kids jump on this gianormous jumper made of giant haybales. What a great way for the kids to burn some energy!

Operates 9am-closing daily.

Pumpkin Pete's Enchanted Hayride Meet Pumpkin Pete and travel through some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring lands of Uesugi Farms. Visit Pumpkinland, our gorgeous Sunflower Gallery, and the spectacular Marigoldland, filled with over 100,000 hand-sown flowers. This one of a kind hayride is completely narrated and complimented with charming music. It's a must see!

Operates 9am-6:30pm daily.

The Cow Train This may be the silliest fun you have all year! A favorite with the kids!

Operates 9am-closing daily.

Pumpkin Blasters Come and shoot targets with mini pumpkins out of this gun... at 90mph. What a blast!! Safe for all ages.

Pumpkins for Sale

We have tons of pumpkins to choose from. All sorts of sizes, shapes and varieties. We also sell haybales, corstalks, indian corn, different squashes, gourds and flowers.

Butterfly Valley Take a stroll along this path and learn about the fascinating lives of butterflies through interactive storyboards.

Operates 9am-6:30pm daily.

Bootsie The Bee Follow the corn path to discover all of Bootsie’s colorful, textured friends, and learn fascinating ‘bee-facts’ too. Be sure to visit Bootsie at night. All the storyboards are lit up with blacklights.

Operates 9am-closing daily.

Carousel Everyone can remember riding a carousel as a youngster, and this one rivals the best.

Operates 9am-closing daily.

Pumpkin Blasters Come and shoot targets with mini pumpkins out of this gun… at 90mph. What a blast!! Safe for all ages.

Operates 9am-closing daily.

Pumpkin Pyramid It takes over 4000 pumpkins to cover our pyramid. A splendiferice site of epic proportions. Have your picture taken while sitting in our king or queen thrones.

Curated by Juan R. Fuentes and Michelle P. Mouton, Hablamos Juntos explores visual dialogs created by prominent California Latinx artists at the Pajaro Valley Arts gallery in Watsonville. In this extraordinarily rich exhibit, you will experience how our artists give voice to and navigate: daily life, current events, social, political and cultural issues, community, ethnicity, as well as personal narratives, myths, and history. Click here for a virtual tour. Visit our Facebook page for additional photos.

The Hablamos Juntos exhibit is also presented in partnership with the San Jose Museum of Art, New Terrains collaboration. Through New Terrains: Mobility and Migration, South Bay arts organizations band together to present a series of cross-disciplinary exhibitions, programs and experiences that explore how bodies move through spaces-social, political, literal, and figurative. Projects address timely topics such as transportation and urban planning, navigation and orientation, public protest, immigration and migration, and mobility in its many forms. For more information on New Terrains: https://sjmusart.org/new-terrains/connect

"I have been attending the Renaissance Pleasure Faire for over thirty years. Although like most Faires it's booths are more in focus for making money than for historical acuracy, it's fun. The jousting matches are as good as I've seen anywhere and I've been at a lot of different Faires. The people that put on the Faire do an excellent job. If you enjoy history, art, music, fencing, costume, food, faires and culture then you should go to this fun event." John Barrows

What's your favorite part about The Joust? Is it the handsome Knights, the swords, the fight for victory?

From swords to clothing to fine art & more, you'll find what your heart desires with our 200+ fine artisans that will hawk their wares in our village! Which vendor are you looking forward to seeing?

There are lots of fun things to "BOO" during Gardens@Night Halloween at Gilroy Gardens! As the sun sets, a mysterious glow illuminates the park for this spooky-but-not-too-scary Halloween event. Go trick-or-treating along the Boo Trail, "Do the Boo" at The Great Big Boo! live musical show, venture into the Spider's Lair (if you dare!), and enjoy your favorite rides in the dark. You'll also find fun food and Halloween treats plus craft beers and local wines at the Marketplace.

The Great Big Boo! Come "Do the Boo" with a charming cast of spooky characters in our all-new LIVE musical show playing nightly at Lakeside Amphitheater. Meet Vinnie the Vampire, Cranium the Mad Scientist, and Wendella the Witch on a wacky adventure to save Halloween.

Get your 2019 Premium Card now to enjoy Halloween@Night and all of the 2019 season: www.gilroygardens.org

Ride the Boo Train

Climb aboard for a 20-minute ride through the BOO-tiful park at night...with stops along the way to make this a very special BOO-tastic experience! Tickets available for an extra charge.

Open 5-10 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, September 21 - October 28.

State Park Big BasinExplore the park's less traveled backcountry Date: Every Su and Sa (Oct 6-Oct 27) at 12:00pm Ages: All Special Instructions: See specific days

Discover Big Basin Redwoods Hike!

Saturday, October 6 at noon

Sunday, October 7 at noon

Saturday, October 13 at noon

Sunday, October 14 at noon

Sunday, October 21 at noon

Saturday, October 27 at noon

Explore the park's less travelled backcountry with Docent Barry Grimm. This moderately paced hike will be individually tailored to your group. Based on group size, experience level, and weather conditions, we will choose from the many trails that explore the park's most scenic areas. Meet at Park Headquarters. Event is free; day-use parking is $10. Event made possible by Mountain Parks Foundation and California State Parks.

Live Tutoring: Students draw or type their question in our online classroom and receive live homework assistance from a Brainfuse-certified tutor. Our tutors don't simply give answers but help students master underlying academic concepts.

SkillSurfer: SkillSurfer includes an extensive library of Brainfuse-created lessons, video tutorials, and practice tests in a wide range of academic subjects, and further integrates them with live tutoring.

Our family of five farmers' markets showcases the best in regional organic produce, pasture-raised meats, eggs and dairy, sustainably-harvested seafoods and artisan-made goods.

Purchasing your food through the area's farmers' markets ensures that you are getting the freshest, healthiest and tastiest foods while supporting local jobs, increasing local spending and promoting the region's strong farming tradition.

We provide direct access to sustainable sources of fresh produce and other unique foods and education about food issues, both local and beyond.

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